Page 7 - INTRA MUROS December 2020

ESTATE NEWS

SECURITY ON THE

ESTATE

The Lakes Security Forum Festive season
We have previously introduced you to ‘The The year is almost over and we are
Lakes Security Forum’ that was established approaching the Christmas season, which
in October 2006 and would like to give is often associated with the possibility of
you some background on how this forum increased crime.
started and its functions.
We have already put in place a contingency
Initially, only the security of Silver Lakes plan to safeguard you and your property
Golf and Wildlife Estate organised and as best we can by doing the following:
executed crime prevention operations, in
conjunction with the local SAPS Boschkop • Ongoing stringent enforcement of our
and the Department of Home Affairs. Since rules and regulations, inter alia, video
my early days as a police officer, I have camera operations during day and night
strongly believed that crime prevention shifts at random stop signs
can only be successful with high visibility • Stringent following of all access control
of law enforcement agency members procedures
and the subtle harassment of potential • Increased patrols in especially high risk
and known criminals. Some people may areas to try and prevent vandalism
argue that you only manage to shift crime • More site visits by senior management
to another area and it becomes someone • Special operations in identified hotspot
else’s problem, which is true. We do areas.
however, believe that through our actions
we keep those criminal elements away
from our pre-determined boundaries. The Lakes Security Forum is planning
combined crime prevention operations
We have realised that our efforts are, in with SAPS Boschkop, prior to the festive
fact, benefiting our neighbouring estates, season.
shopping centres, office parks, etc; and
therefore approached representatives of We wish to request residents to be extra
those to become our partners in our efforts security conscious on all levels over this
to combat crime. Not only did we manage period and to report any suspicious
to strengthen the hand of our local SAPS in behaviour to the security control room
terms of manpower and other resources, or shift manager, immediately. Residents
but also managed to get different private going away during the school holidays are
security companies, traditionally in urged to inform the security control room.
competition with each other, to work We will conduct special patrols to these
together to reach a common goal. properties on a regular basis.

Ever since the numbers of the forum REMEMBER, SECURITY STARTS AT
members have grown and we are still HOME!
growing from strength to strength. All
members exchange crucial information
and look out for suspicious looking
vehicles and/or persons. We have monthly
meetings at different venues and frequent
crime prevention operations with a strong
SAPS presence.
We frequently receive requests from other
estates outside of our pre-determined
boundaries to assist them with
establishing similar forums. SAPS statistics
clearly indicate that we are on the right
track, as there is a noticeable decline in the
number of reported crimes. SAPS statistics
have a huge impact on the planning of
crime prevention operations. They allow Hennie du Plessis
us to determine various crime trends. Security Manager

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